This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
34 cladding & facades


Cladding brings


refreshed look to flats of the future


Danny Phelan, sales manager at Panel Systems, looks at how housebuilders are using innovative cladding materials to create modern, aesthetically pleasing multi-occupancy dwellings.


cant advances occurring relatively recently. For instance, between 2002 and 2014, the propor- tion of people aged 16 or over who were single or divorced increased, leading to higher numbers of people living in single person households. There has also been a growth in adults who are not living as a couple and have never married or civil partnered, which rose to one quarter of adults (24.9 per cent). This is still the most common living arrangement for the 16 to 29 age group, where 71.6 per cent of people were found to be living alone. This rise in smaller households is leading to a


T


reinvigoration of the market for multi-occupa- tional living, therefore presenting both a challenge and an opportunity for housebuilders. These companies are increasingly pushing the boundaries to make apartments more desirable and aesthetically pleasing. The entire skyline of a city can change with the


construction of a tall residential building, which is why it is so important to get the aesthetics


respond online at www.hbdonline.co.uk


here has been a great change in multi- occupational living over the past four decades, with some of the most signifi-


right. Architects have a preference to make them minimalistic and modern in appearance, and architectural cladding can help to create a clean, uncluttered design. The wide choice of cladding options means that housebuilders can experiment with various colours, textures, materials and decorative effects on cladding panels. These decorative effects are the reason for


“The entire skyline of a city can change with the construction of a tall residential building, which is why it is so important to get the aesthetics right”


architectural cladding’s great appeal for larger multi-occupancy apartments. In urban areas, housebuilders often choose to


clad buildings due to the acoustic and sound- proofing qualities for residents. There are also extensive benefits in terms of energy efficiency too, as the cold or warmth outside cannot penetrate the cladding system, and therefore the internal temperature within the apartment is


more consistent. When it comes to aesthetics for city centres,


architectural panels can provide a sheer, smooth facade. We have seen building designers use this to great effect for residential buildings, incorporating elongated horizontal cladding panels, which creates a modern take on the architecturally-proportioned ashlar coursing found on many historical buildings. This type of effect works particularly well with grey or stone coloured fibre cement panels, with the added benefit that it offers low maintenance. For devel- opers looking for something even more contemporary, triangular, vertical or simply square panels are all possibilities. Choosing the most effective shape, material and colour for the facade depends on a number of factors.


Energy-efficient buildings


Cladding panels offer a popular method of insulating a building, where insulation is integrated behind the cladding boards. Insulation can be selected in a range of grades and thickness, including materials which are


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60